Defensive line a strength of Detroit Lions, but still might add to unit with 13th pick

Editor's note: This is one in a series of stories examining the Detroit Lions and the NFL draft. Today: Defensive line. Monday: Running backs.

ALLEN PARK -- The defensive line was arguably the deepest and most productive position for the Detroit Lions last season so it stands to reason that it's a group that won't get much attention in this year's draft.

The Lions were sixth in the NFL in sacks last season with 44 and they're returning all of their starters, including two young guys -- Ndamukong Suh and Cliff Avril -- who combined for 18.5 sacks and they should be even better this season.

A couple of backups -- Sammie Hill and Lawrence Jackson -- have shown that they can handle a big part of the rotation without a huge drop-off in production.

And yet, the Detroit Lions might still draft a defensive lineman with the 13th overall pick in the first round of the draft.

Why? Because you can never have enough. Last year, the Chicago Bears spent $91 million on free-agent pass rusher Julius Peppers and they're still looking for pass rushers. Why? Because you can never have enough.

"No, never can," Bears coach Lovie Smith said at the owners meetings in March. "Even if you love every one, the next year we'll be looking to see if we can get an improvement because it all starts there with us."

A FUTURE LION?

Scouting report: Aldon Smith has everything the Lions are looking for in a defensive end, including an explosive first step, great speed around the edge and some run-stopping ability. He can be an every-down player and can be groomed to ultimately replace Kyle Vanden Bosch, who will be 33 years old this season. The Lions might not get a shot at a player of Smith's caliber for quite awhile. In any other year, Smith would likely be a top 10 pick but he's getting pushed down a little on the defensive linemen draft board because of the presence of guys like North Carolina's Robert Quinn, Auburn's Nick Fairley, Alabama's Marcell Dareus and, potentially, Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers.

"We really have improved our football team by improving our defensive line, but we can still add to that group, I think," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said.

Both the Bears and Lions run a 4-3 defense and, like both teams, the only way to have an effective defense is for the front four to get consistent pass pressure. While the Lions also will look at an offensive tackle like USC's Tyron Smith or a cornerback like Nebraska's Prince Amukamara, there are several defensive end candidates who might be too good to pass up.

Missouri's Aldon Smith appears to be an ideal fit for the Lions. While Detroit would prefer to have someone a little bigger than the 6-5, 265-pound Smith, his size is not a problem. Cliff Avril, who is rapidly becoming a pass-rushing force in the league, is only 260 pounds and Kyle Vanden Bosch is 275 pounds.

The Lions can use smaller ends because of the way they play their defense. They line up their ends split wide with a couple of yards between them and the tackles. At the snap, the ends can build a couple of steps of speed and momentum before they engage the tackle. The key is an explosive first step and Aldon Smith has that.

Here's something else about Smith: he has also played some tackle so he would add to the versatility the Lions are looking for in nickel situations.

One of the recent developments on the draft is that Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers -- originally believed to be a top five pick -- could slide to the Lions at No. 13. That would put the Lions on the horn of a dilemma. Bowers is a superior athlete but has a knee injury that may or may not require the dreaded microfracture surgery. The Lions will have to weigh whether Bowers' great value at No. 13 is worth the risk.

Depending on how the injury situation works out, the Lions could either have the steal of the draft or a guy who might never step on the field.

If Bowers and Smith are gone -- or just not in the Lions' plans -- a couple of other options at defensive end include Wisconson's J.J. Watt, California's Cameron Jordan and Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan.

Watt, a former tight end at Central Michigan, is the biggest of those players at 292 pounds and can add more weight. He can also play inside and outside and has a high motor.

Jordan can play the outside, but doesn't have great explosion on the edge and might be better suited as a three-technique tackle. A solid player who uses his hands extremely well, Jordan could fit into Detroit's plans if they want to give Ndamukong Suh more time on the outside.

Kerrigan's stock seems to ebb and flow with every passing day. He can play both defensive end spots and his motor can rival that of Vanden Bosch. He might not have the eye-popping playmaking ability of guys like Bowers and Smith, but he's solid and dependable.﻿